Being Chinese in Singapore

Peeps,

Another good read, here. The piece, by the great Tash Aw, was published in the International New York Times.

Of nut and banana

Folks,

Here is an interesting topic about nuts and banana, as opposed to "nuts and bolts".

These nut and banana will be discussed in ethnic context of Malay and Chinese communities, respectively.

And no, this is not a sex talk, but merely a social, unscientific observation of the fabric of society that I am in.

Let's first talk about "nut".

Despite all the nitty-gritty negative connotations; nut or "kacang" in Malaysia is used to describe someone who has forgotten its roots.

There is a specific Malay phrase that goes like this" kacang lupakan kulit, which in English would mean "a nut who has forgotten its shell".

This phrase is regularly intended to describe those -- particularly the Malays -- that have forgotten their own root (culture) such that they pretend not to know the Malay language after coming back overseas, or they decide to disband their parents in achieving worldly pleasure.

So that is about nut, or kacang.

With all due respect, I specifically relate it to the Malays because I feel that they can absorb and feel its meaning best, as compared to other race.

But be careful! Don't blindly use the word kacang.

If you want to describe someone who has forgotten its root, then use the phrase kacang lupakan kulit in full.

If you use kacang alone, it would mean "simple", in the sense that this word is loosely used to describe how simple it is to solve or do something.

And why is kacang used in such context?

Well, probably because it is simpler to throw kacang in your mouth and chew them as foods.

Throwing kacang is an easy act, no?

Next comes banana or pisang, an often a misunderstood fruit.

Banana is a pejorative word used widely within the Chinese community.

Let's look at the anatomy of a banana. It is long (yes, everyone noticed that!), and have a yello colour on the outside and a somewhat white colour on the inside.

The slur is that the yellow outside represents the Chinese skin colour, and the white inside represents the so-called caucassion, or mat salleh as it is known in this country.

What I am trying to say is that, a Chinese is labelled as banana is he or she embrace Western culture such that they forgot their own roots, eapecially their language.

An often-seen situation that could be a good example is if there is a Chinese that does not know how to speak Chinese -- either Mandarin, or Cantonese, or Hokkien, or even Hakka.

Therefore, there you have it.

Nut or kacang for the Malays, and banana or pisang for the Chinese.

The fruits of race-linked pejorative, is how I would term it.

A Night With Two Leng Chai-s

Hello Peeps,

Tonight I want to talk about my two former students who are now considered friends.

I taught these two students when I was teaching at UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Their names are Ee Kai Shen (to my right) and Tan Ewe Gin (to my left). They were my former students: they were hardworking students with extremely polite attitude and manners, which is a reflective of the good upbringing by their parents.

And they are Chinese students. Oh what the heck: Chinese, Malay, Indians.

And I for once do not have any problems to mingle around with persons of different race, background and religion; for they too are human beings created by the Supreme Being.

Anyway, I went out with them at Leisure Mall, Cheras; and they treated me some nice Subway sandwich. What a nice lad, they are!

After munching the yummy Subway sandwich, we talked about many things: education and surprisingly, politics.

Ee Kai Shen talked about his experiences being an exchange student at a university in Illinois, United States of America: he talked about how nice the university campus is, how friendly the lecturers are and how interesting the courses offered there.

Kai Shen is a very bright and smart student. And I am sure that the student exchange experience was a meaningful event for him.

On the other hand, Ewe Gin talked about the challenges faced in studying some courses at UCSI University. Ewe Gin is a very hardworking student: he will endeavour and strive hard to understand the subject well. Of course, some courses can be tough, but I have every reason to believe that with his attitude and hard efforts will definitely be fruitful.

We also talked about how interesting engineering is, and how different UCSI University is, after I left in August 2010. According to them, the university is doing fine and many changes had taken place. And that too include the fact that many of my colleagues have also resigned: I guess they are finding a new place to settle. Maybe the grass is greener in other places.

Anyway, we also talked about political issues, particularly about the recent general elections held on May 5th, 2013. We also talked about this sensitive issues that are now hitting Malaysia: racism.

Of being a Malay. Of being a Chinese. Of being labeled "Pendatang". Of being racially divided. And many other sensitive issues which I am sure many Malays will find it hard to digest and understand.

I have to be honest: that I hate being racist, and that I am a liberal Malay. I told them clearly that I like mixing with people of other races; and that I befriend anyone - Asian, Americans, transexuals, lesbians, punks, beggars etc.

I have no qualms sitting in a Chinese restaurant sipping some nice coffee made by a cheerful uncle. I may not eat the foods there, such as "Bak Kut Teh"; but I don't mind being there and seeing them indulge their foods.

Despite the sensitive issues which were the topics of our discussion; I enjoyed going out with them, discussing many things. It was a fun night, with so many things shared: experiences, ideologies, views and perspectives.

I am looking forward to spending quality time with them again, in the future.

I believe that we Malays, should have more friends of other races; so that our we can broaden our mind, expand our horizons and discover more interesting things.

We are, after all Malaysians; and now is a crucial time to embrace differences and respect one another. For we are Malaysians; and we are truly Asians. And we are afer all, 1-Malaysia.